Major Nguyen Van Thu, Logistics Staff Officer of the UNISFA, described the camp as a devastated, bare and shabby place in his first tour here in last April to survey and make logistic preparation for then-upcoming arrival of the Vietnamese Engineering Company Rotation 1 to implement U.N. peacekeeping operations at the mission.
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Leveling the ground to grow vegetables |
According to him, it is easy for anyone to feel discouraged or even lose their heart while seeing the lack of material resources along with heavily-downgraded barracks.
However, just more than a month after arriving at the mission, the Highway Camp has been beautified gradually thanks to the considerable efforts and determination of the Vietnamese engineering troops. It is now a military base in the true sense of the word.
Accurate and well-balanced arrangement of a large amount of engineering equipment and a good number of vehicles in the camp’s ground shows the strength and regularity of the Vietnamese military. Reportedly, at present, they are all set on standby for search and rescue missions in any circumstances if requested.
Walking in the camp, there are a number of vegetable plots - a very familiar image in the countryside in Vietnam. They look like small green fields, symbolizing the peace color in the disputed Abyei region. Fallow gardens in the camp are now under cultivation by peacekeepers from the S-shaped country.
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Vegetable plots are formed thanks to clever hands of Vietnamese military engineers. |
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Growing water spinach in Abyei |
In the very near future, these vegetable plots will not also beautify their barracks but also become an abundant source of vegetables for Vietnamese engineers' diet, helping them have good health to contribute to fulfilling all U.N. peacekeeping missions.
Moreover, under the temperature of over 40 degrees Celsius, Vietnamese technicians, medical workers and cooks of the company are promptly ordering their staffed equipment to prepare for their first tasks in the locality.
Especially, members of the company’s guard detachment are undergoing patrols round the clock to ensure order and security in the camp.
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Doing patrols round the clock to ensure order and security in the camp |
The new appearance of the Highway Camp shows the professionalism and remarkable strength of solidarity, will and determination of all members of the Vietnamese Engineering Company Rotation 1, making contribution to bringing into play the heroic traditions of the Vietnamese military engineers.
The Highway Camp is expected to be further built into a regular, green, clean, and beautiful destination, becoming the second home of the Vietnamese Engineering Company Rotation 1 in Abyei.
Translated by Minh Anh